3. Maeving

Founders: Seb Inglis-Jones and Will Stirrup
Founded: 2018
Website: maeving.com

“Isn’t technology amazing?” Every so often, a startup comes along during the Startups 100 judging process that makes our team of experts utter this phrase in awe at the brilliance of modern tech. This year, that business is Maeving.

The West Midlands-based startup is manufacturing an innovative electric motorcycle that can be fully recharged as easily as a smartphone.

Each bike is equipped with removable batteries, powered using any standard three-pin socket. This drastically simplifies the charging process and makes ‘range anxiety’ a thing of the past for drivers.

It’s also overcoming a key barrier to adoption for motorists: making them less reliant on bulky EV charge points, which are expensive to install and difficult to locate. According to a study by RAC, which asked 3,000 drivers for their opinion on EVs, 60% said they were put off by the lack of available charging points.

Each bike is equipped with removable batteries, powered using any standard three-pin socket.

Since launching in April 2022, the Maeving RM1 has been the nation’s best-reviewed electric motorcycle – and the best selling, too.

Maeving is also a significant success story for UK manufacturing. Not willing to risk importing potentially low-quality bikes from China, co-founders Will Stirrup and Seb Inglis-Jones leaned into the country’s century-rich heritage in motorcycle design and production. They went on to open their own facility in Binley, Coventry.

At its core, the company’s mission is a green one. “As a business, we are keen to get as many people as possible on to electric two-wheelers, as they have the potential to radically transform cities, making them cleaner, quieter, and healthier,” the team tells us.

With anti-pollution schemes like London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) popping up across the country, demand for Maeving’s technology will only increase as its advantages become more relevant for consumers.

A Maeving bike's batteries can be charged from 20% to 80% in under two hours, while a full charge costs less than £1.

Those more worried about their commute costs than their carbon footprint will still be convinced by Maeving.

According to the startup, its batteries can be charged from 20% to 80% in under two hours, while a full charge costs less than £1. That means motorists can power the bike for less than a litre of milk, an obvious incentive with the cost of fuel already rising rapidly this winter.

In motorbiking terms, Maeving’s superfast growth journey has seen it do the ton and then some. Last year, it expanded internationally into Europe and Australia, and launched in the US in December 2023.

Plus, having previously targeted city dwellers, the launch of Maeving’s new RM1S model means the startup has earned its leathers, with a motorway-capable top speed of 70mph, allowing it to reach riders in the green belt and beyond.

As the home of Binley Mega Chippy, the region has already been home to worldwide phenomenon. In 2024 it’s set to host another, as Maeving’s revolutionary EV motorcycles accelerate progress towards global emissions targets. With that, our third top startup rides off into the sunset.